nipper

hear hear!

You can't blame the good old British Bobby! On recruitment, they have there brains interfered with at Hendon! after that, theres no hope, for them or us!

Yep! If on a canal boat, sod im, I'm heavier! If on a small yacht, if in doubt, sod off out! or word to that effect! Have a happy new year all of you! Nipper

The Police have the gubbins to track a mobile phone, even months ago! There was a report the other week, about a particularly gruesome murder down in Dorset, where the police tracked 3 mobile phones and even knew they were inside the same car on a journey months previous to the investigation. But I agree, a tracking device could be used, not that expensive I'd of thought. But Hey! lets not get to paranoid! two boats lost and two found? and how many on the cut? Nipper

Yes, also the old saying that steam or motor gives way to sail! Try forcing that issue in the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour and one may find oneself in a tad of bother!

Yes Supermalc, and here too! Normal indiscretions in the rules of navigation are tolerated. But, I've found that it is when situations get hectic is when the situations turn nasty. Like having to be get your boat back by a certain time and there's a queue of boats up ahead waiting for the lock, and the one at the head of the queue is stopped to make a cup of tea, or like as I have witness on a Cowes Firework night, although, Lord I hope the Canals never get like it. Hundreds of boats, after the fireworks, heading for the same place at the same time, each going their different speed and coarse. most having drank a bottle or two. Bottles get thrown, ramming are made deliberately, flares are set off and on at least one occasion death has occurred! Our local Marine Division of the Police ( all two boats for the entire Wight area) and the Cowes Harbour Commision have a devil of a job policing the event. Most boaters are aware of the rules and on the canals, the overlying trend is to be keep happy and polite, most understand that things go wrong, and are willing to help, knowing full well that, maybe next week they may be in a similar position. Hope you all have a happy new year! Nipper

My dear Supermalc "I didn't alter course, or anything, just veered slightly towards the NB". Hehe! Hole and shovel come to mind! As you say "it is all irrelevant" and all part of the wider scene of boating. Have you ever tried making a passage under sail in the busy waters of the Solent on a Sunny weekend in August? In general the rules are kept to, with lots of gentlemanly waves and acknowledgements of thanks for altering coarse, even if it was you who had to adjust. It all works well and with a surprisingly small number of incidents, that is until you meet a fleet of club racers, then, well be told if you don't keep out of there way, the language is loud and very, shall we say explicit! Most of the bumps and bangs are done by overgenerous sailors doing something not in the collision regs and were not expected to do! thus causing confusion, which in turn leads to the bumps and scrapes, as Nick has said. Nipper

Whoops! Sorry for me being so rude! I pressed the wrong Button! Still, we all make mistakes!!!! Nipper

Rules are rules and are great if every body keeps to them! You, as the overtaking vessel, had a commitment to keep clear of the boat you were overtaking, having made sure before making the commitment, that it was all clear to do so! The vessel overtaking you was doing his thing and would presumably done the same with you. It was your decision to amend your coarse. As for "He would have known I was going as fast as I could". Na! I

Hiya all. I'm afraid, all the training, all the licencing and all the Boat inspections, will not make idiots any wiser! Just look at our roads! Nipper

Thanks Stuart. I missed that one. Theres always something! Looks like I'll have to do a "Hobbit Run" down the Stratford ( There and back again). Still, the pubs will be warm and welcoming. Lets hope the weather dries a bit. nipper

Hiya all! I'm taking a weeks cruise on the 17th of December, yes i know, bit close to Krimble isn't it. Wifey doesn't want to come, so I'm taking a couple of mates! Hic! The boat is based at alvechurch and i hought i'd try a shortend Stourport Ring. Does anyone know wether the Netherton Tunnel is in full use? I have heard a wisper down here that there is work being undertaken there. Waterscape dosn't tell me anything, so, I thought I'd ask you great sages. Nipper

Na! you'd want to be geared the other way for the K&A. Aboat 50 turns per paddle? Dead easy in theory, but you try doin fifty full turns, even when there's no load. Makes your arm ache. Nipper

My heart goes out to the family of the poor chap! Having lost a very close family member a couple of years ago, in a boating accident, i know what they are going through! Why! Why! Why! is it still deemed sissy to wear a life jacket? It only takes a split second, and it's too late! I never though I'd be saying it, till our tragedy, but It's high time automatic automatic jackets are made compulsory in all boating. Manual lifejackets should be left for airplanes! Nipper

I wouldn't be too quick to knock Chinese Steel. The Harbour authorities around the Solent, including Cowes, are importing there Mooring Riser Chains from China. Apparently, they just can't get the quality of Steel from the UK anymore! So maybe one would get a better quality steel Narrow Boat too. Nipper

So using a Bow thruster makes one look like a toss pot eh? Maybe they said that when they first put an engine in a Canal Boat. Yes! maybe they will uninvent the Wheel, Pneumatic Tyres, Electricity, and all the modern essentials we have with us in this world! I for one embrace modern technoligy, I wouldn't put to sea on my sailing boat without my Chart Plotter, Vhf Radio, echo sounder etc or indeed my engine!. and indeed the vast majority of the worlds shipping have Bow thrusters. Also, on the Canals, I have been on boats with and without "The Girly Machines". If there there I'll use em. if there not I'll do without or use springs. Like most things, It must be used as an aid, it comes into use with me in high winds were otherwise there is a danger the boat would be pushed into moored craft, keeping the boat on station awaiting others to come through a bridge maybe, close quarters stuff were one would normaly use springs etc! Come on lets not knock technology, if its available use it! nipper

Well Christine, It would be a sad day when women were rationed their tea and the men there beer! How long you away for Christine? I should be doing the same on the 24th, I have two weeks,from Alvechurch, but with only three aboard. But would be interested as to your findings, for the pump outs and the trip! Have a good trip! Nipper

Well done and Glad you had a good time. Just to let you know that it's also like that on the coastal waters as well. I have cruised accross from the Isle of Wight to France, The Channel Islands and also The West Country this year and found the same type of behavure from the certain few. Having met boaters from very many countries whilst away, I believe it is a sort of British problem. The French, Dutch, Belgians, Germans were all polite and helpfull to a single hander on a small sailing boat, but cruising the South Coast I meet with a lot of stressed out people only too willing to dish out some Crap to anyone who looks there way! Only a couple of days ago some bloke and his missus dressed up to the nines, flying a very famous Dartmouth Yacht Club Burgee, came past my moored boat doing about 12 Knots, knocking over me beer and soaking me sandwich. His nose so high in the air that it tempted a passing Blackback Seagull to sh..t all over his dark blue blazer! Wonderfull! Anyway! at the risk of being well off topic. In a few weeks time I'm doing the Warickshire Ring. With just the My old Mother and the Missus on board i was wondering someone could give me some pointers on were Not to moor around Birmingham etc, bearing in mind that our share boat has been a victim of Bandits a couple of times this year!

I thought this canal boating was so friendly and relaxing too!

I do understand were malcolm is coming from, but this gearing means 50 turns to lift the paddle on each gate and the same number to close them. 200 turns! I would add that the side paddles are in the usual gearing and quite easy, as you don't lose your strength so soon! If that makes sence? We followed some hurberts down the Cearn flight who decided that that number of turns were not for them and dropped the paddles on every gate as they went down, dispite a BW worker being about! so aiding the dimise of some pretty wrotten and old gates, that, to me, won't last the coming season! Nipper

Hiya all. I've just got back from a lovely cruise along the Kennet and Avon. A 69ft Hire boat out of Foxhangers (nice boat, nice people) The weather was fine and even tropical as we desended the Caen flight on Friday on our way back. A lovely time was had by all! But! How on earth did BW make the decision to put gearing into all the lock paddles? What a trial. To lift a gate paddle requires about 50 turns with the handle which is strain on the patience, and then the worst bit is lowering it, the same number of turns! Round and round the handle goes, round and round your arm goes! Now, having spent millions putting the little boxes on the lock gates, they are now spending millions on a trial, to find out, from us boaters, if we like it and asking wether it would of been better to have used the normal gearing that other systems use! The opinion of my crew and of the Staff ( wifey, 5ft of small irish build with the patience of a saint) is YES!! PS. Sorry for the winge, I'll now step off me soap box!! Nipper